Wire-stretcher.



0; s. BTHRIDGE.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 13, 1912.

Patented Apr. 1, 1,913. I

Inventing Chance-104 SEfloridjgQ;

Warren OHANCELOR S. 'I

ETHRIDGE, 0F SANDVICH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR- 3F ONSE- 0 HARRY BLANCHARD, GI SANDWICH, NEW HAMPSI-HR WIREEERETCHER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patent d Apr... i, it? i Application filed June 13, 1912. Serial No. 703,405.

To (ZZZ 207mm it may concern:

Be it known that l, CI-IANOELOI: S. ETH- mnon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sandwich, in the county of Can roll and State of New ltlalnpshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVireSt-retchers, of which the following is a full and exact description.

This invention has for its object the construction of a device for stretching wire fencing, which. can be fastened in place after it has drawn the wire taut, so that a man can leave it and staple the wire to the posts, thereby enabling one person to do the work of the two ordinarily required. In addition, this wire stretcher embodies other improvements hereinafter set forth.

. The drawing forming part of this specification illustrates the wire stretcher made in accordance with my invention and in operative position.

The reference numeral 1 designates a fence post shown as viewed from above; and 2, a wire being stretched. The wire stretcher itself comprises a head having a jaw 4t and a socket member 5 carrying a wooden bar or handle 6 of suitable length for giving ample leverage. Pivoted to said head at 7 is a cam jaw 10 preferably roughened or serrated, and provided with a lever extension 11. s The position of this lever 11 relative to the shanklQ of said head when awire is gripped between said head and cam aw, is at an acute angle therewith as shown.

Hence, a wire being gripped, and the stretcher being fulcruined igainst the post as illustrated, the pressureapplied to the bar or handle 6 acts against the lever ll to increase the grip of the jaw upon the wire. When the stretcher bar has been swung far enough about'the fence post to thoroughly stretch the wire, the dog 13 is struck into the side of the post and the parts thereby retained in place. To insure that the stretcher shall not slip when it is swung back toward an ear 1 5 preferably formed integral with said socket and shanh'. After the stretched wire has been fastened to the posts in usual manner, the dog 13 is struck out from its engagement with the post, and the wire stretcher lQlllOVLtltO another section of the wire.

This wire stretcher in etl'ect a self-tightening 'tong-jaw caln lever; is simple litl strong in construction, grips the wire with great power, but above all else in importance, it can be fastened in its wire-tightened position and left to itself, while the inan'cango to other parts of the fence.

" t lhat I claim as niy invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows; to wit v A wire stretcher comprising a lever having a jaw at. one extremity, and a pivoted jaw adapted to coact with the first-named jaw for gripping a wire, said lever having spurs along its side facing the point from which the wire is to be stretched, and said pivoted jaw having a lever extension adapt ed to make a sharply acute angle with. saidlever at the side provided with said spurs, whereby said lever being fulcrunied againstthe fence post to which the wire is to be attached with certain of said spurs engaging the same, said lever extension will be pressed against said post by the stretching-force applied to the lever and the jaws will be made forcibly to grip the wire.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing invention. 1 have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of (tune, 1912.

l'lrlNClfillOlt S. ETHRIDGE l'Vitnesses l -lnnnnn'r l ll msn'r'rs, JOHN S. Quincy. 

